Saelig Company, Inc. has announced the introduction of the AIM-TTi TGF4000 Series of high quality, dual-channel arbitrary waveform generators, with models to 240MHz offering exceptionally low harmonic distortion and phase noise. One significant parameter that the TGF4000 series performs well in is audio band total harmonic distortion at just 0.05%. The TGF4000’s pulse generator design provides an exceptional pulse width resolution of 100ps over a period range from 10ns to 1000s. The pulse edge speed is also independently variable from 3ns to 800s. Pulse jitter is dramatically lower than comparable generators at only 30ps. Each of the two channels can be operated independently as two separate generators. Coupled operation is available for frequency, amplitude, and output on/off, which enables simultaneous output variations on both channels. Relative phase can be set from -360 degrees to +360 degrees with 0.001 degree resolution.

The TGF4000 signal generators can provide up to 20V pk-pk signals (10V pk-pk into 50 ohms) for frequencies up to 80MHz. High levels of DC offset can be set in conjunction with low signal levels, and the attenuator can be fixed to prevent glitches when changing levels. Amplitudes can be entered as peak to peak voltage plus offset or as high level and low level values. The amplitudes are shown relative to a 50 ohm load impedance or as the open circuit EMF values. Alternatively, the user can enter any load value between 1 ohm to 10k ohm and the amplitude will be calculated accordingly. A wide variety of waveforms can be generated between 1uHz and 240MHz with high resolution and accuracy. Sine waves are produced with low distortion up to 240MHz. Square waves with fast rise and fall times can be generated at up to 100MHz. Linear ramp waves are produced to 5MHz. Ramp and square waves can also have variable symmetry. The TGF4000 can generate high resolution, low jitter, variable edge time pulses to 100MHz with variable period, pulse width and amplitude.

The TGF4000’s 4.3” high resolution color screen provides added efficiency and clarity for complex testing. Graphs for both channels can be compared side by side or with a detailed description of the settings selected. Complex custom waveforms can be generated with 16-bit (14-bit on the TGF4042 and TGF4082) resolution and a sampling rate of 800MSa/s (400MSa/s on the TGF4042 and TGF4082). Up to four waveforms can be stored in internal memory. Waveforms can also be generated by the supplied Waveform Manager Plus Windows application and downloaded to the instrument via USB, LAN or optional GPIB interfaces or via a USB flash drive.

Internal AM, FM, PM, ASK, FSK, BPSK, SUM* and PWM modulation modes make it easy to modulate waveforms without the need for a separate modulation source. Linear and logarithmic sweeps are also built in, with sweep rates selectable from 1us to 500s. Burst mode operation allows for a user selected number of cycles at each trigger event. The Noise function provides wideband Gaussian noise at bandwidths up to 100MHz and crest factor of more than five. Noise can be used both as a carrier waveform and as a modulating waveform for AM, FM, PM, PWM and SUM modulation types. As a carrier it can be AM, ASK or SUM modulated. Additional features of the 16 bit TGF4242 and TGF4162 include the harmonics generator function whereby waveforms can be created by the addition of up to 16 sine wave, chosen from up to the 50th order. The amplitude and phase can be individually set for each harmonic. Pseudo-Random Bit Sequence (PRBS) is a binary waveform type that is widely used within secure communications systems. PRBS is offered with a choice of 8 sequence lengths at rates between 1ubps and 100Mbps. PRBS can be used as both a carrier waveform and a modulator.

Made by Aim-TTi, a leading European test equipment manufacturer, the TGF4000 series is available now from Saelig Company, Inc. Fairport, NY.